First Look: Xbox Live on Windows 8 (Video)

Posting from Anaheim: Microsoft is giving attendees at its Build conference here an early look at the Xbox Live application that it’s developing for Windows 8, bringing the online gaming and entertainment service from the living room console to traditional PCs and tablet computers.

“We are bringing everything you know and love on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live to Windows,” said Avi Ben-Menahem, a Microsoft principal program manager lead, after running through the social elements of the Metro-style Xbox Live app that Microsoft plans to release for Windows 8. See the video above for the bulk of the demo.

He said that includes standard multiplayer gaming, as with the current Xbox Live platform, but also asynchronous (turn-based) gaming.

“That will allow you the developers to perform multiplayer functionality between two Windows PCs, between Windows and a phone or between Windows and the Xbox 360,” he said, to applause from the crowd of Build attendees.

As shown during the demo, the app also has tabs for video and music, but Ben-Menahem said he wouldn’t be showing those elements yet. He also declined to give a timeline for the release — not a surprise, because Microsoft hasn’t yet said when Windows 8 will be coming out.

Update: Wrapping up the session, Ben-Menahem said participation in the Xbox Live development program will be free for developers to participate in.

Find out at The GeekWire Summit, taking place on Oct. 1-3, 2018 in Seattle, one of the country’s premier technology conferences, bringing together more than 900 innovators and tech leaders together for an immersive two-day conference.

This year’s lineup features the CEO’s of Boeing, The Gates Foundation, Ring, eBay and more. Early bird rates end soon, grab your tickets today.